Curious to know about these Ping S57 irons. I was gifted them and not sure if I would even ever use them. Interested to hear from anyone who has used these irons before.
My name is Thomas. Over the years I have acquired so many complete iron sets. Every thing from ping zings to Callaway, king cobra and mizuno. I have quit a few descent putters. The putters don't really intrest me, due to the fact that they aren't the higher quality. I have ping ansers, an assortment of odyssey putters, old cobras, Callaway, Taylor made, but to me their nothing special. So now I'm looking to test this market and sell some of these clubs. I'm learning more about golf clubs every day!
This is probably the crown jewel of my persimmon collection. This is a 1954 MacGregor M85W refinished by Dave Wood. Wood told the previous owner (who had Dave refinish this) that he was surprised that this driver didn't make it out on the PGA tour. Wood said this driver is about as perfect as they come.
There is something about the classic MacGregors that is far superior than any other brand and model.
There has been a recent shift in the Scotty Cameron player and Collector world.
Recently I have been bombarded with questions on Facebook regarding certain models, era, vintage. And the dreaded 'I have never seen this before".
Many of the questions just were common knowledge to the Scotty Cameron folks. Or so I thought.
But, I had to put things in perspective.
Many of the questions were coming from younger players/collectors. Say 20-30 years old.
Tiger won his first Masters 21 years ago using the famed Tei3 Newport. The effort that sent that market into the stratosphere. I remember that era, I remember selling those putters new.
It hit me: Many of these 'kids' heading into the Cameron Market weren't even Born, or can't remember that time period !
Most have never seen a Solestamp Tei3, Pintail Coronado, a Mizuno Classic head cover or Classic 1. Or even the Tour Putters from the early 2000's, when 99.9% ofTour Putters and Circle T Putters were actually made for Tour players and not collectors as they are now. The list is endless.
Things that were common knowledge 15 years ago, let alone 10 years ago, isn't common. The best part is the younger collectors seem to like I mean REALLY like the old school stuff.
Why ?
All they have been privy to is the past 10 years of Blah Stainless Red Dot Off the Rack (OTR) putters. Or 'Tour' putters that are $5000 that have never seen a 'tour' in their life.
They seem to have an appreciation for a gamer that was a PGA players putter that has some battle scars. Even the Tei3 Putters and Oil Can & Mill Specs. They know if they want a good, carbon steel putter, they have to go back in time almost 20 years ! Especially left-handers.
Along with that, many old school guys I knew have gotten out completely. They already have seen all the old stuff, or owned it. And the new stuff just doesn't fit the bill. Let alone you can't get an older putter refinished from the studio exactly identical to how it was originally. If you sent a Classic 1 from 1993 in to be restored. The finish would be different (no more shiny black oxide), the grip and cover would be too. Plus the price is more for a restoration than what most of these clubs sold for originally.
An interesting time indeed. And some good bargains to be had. That putter you passed in in 2008, is in demand now.
OCTJMOICBW (Of Course, That's Just My Opinion, I could Be Wrong)
This driver was offered in 2005 and 2006. The 905S, like it's sibling the 905T were 400cc drivers. The 905R was a 460cc offering. The difference between the 905T and 905S was the center of gravity and headshape (to accomplish this). The 905S was pear shaped and was a little shorter from face to back which produced a higher center of gravity. I believe the 905S is also a bit deeper faced. To some this driver represented an end to the era that started with the 975D.
On a personal note, I have been gaming a 905T (8.5 degree, UST Mayima AxivCore Tour Green stiff) for several years and have just retired this driver in lieu of a 905S (9.5 degree, Fujikura Pro 73 Tour Spec stiff, blind bore 2"). The 905S is definitely longer, doesn't balloon up, has a bit of run and is simply longer than my 905T (25 yards or so). While this driver is only 11 years old in terms of being a current product, it has the feel of classic metal wood drivers.
Those that remember the late 1990's internet Golf Forums remember the buzz that Vokey wedges gathered.
Outside of the Cleveland long line of wedges, this was a new player to the game.
If you were REALLY looking for rarity, you looked for Vokey Prototypes. At the time, these commanded top dollar.
Bob Vokey was more of a behind the scenes guy in the 1980's & 1990's ,designing the Founders Club Defense Forged wedges with Harry Taylor. (he had also worked for Taylor Made in the 1980's- Repair and design)
Bob was initially brought to Titleist to help on the 975D driver and get it on Tour. He recognized himself as more of a 'driver guy'. Once that project was over, they wanted a signature line of wedges. The rest as they say is history.
Vokey Prototypes are kind of under the radar- as the older ones do not have USGA legal conforming Grooves. But, you can find really unique grinds and stamps. You can even find older Tour Model Titleist shaped and given the Prototype stamp.
Best of all, you can find plenty under 50-60 dollars today and have a really cool collectible. No 2 ever seem to be the same.
One Note - On the 200 series especially, if you love the shape- but get lots of high left shots, try about 1 inch of lead tape, placed vertically out toward the toe. You will see many tour Vokeys with this modification.
In the early 2000's. One of the most desired and mythical fairway metals was the Titleist 970 Prototype.
Previously, the Titleist PT13 and PT15 of the early 90's gained popularity again when Tiger Woods started using one of those fairway metals with a bore thru.
But during his famous run in the early 2000's, he had the 970 in the bag. If you could find one then, prices topping 7-800$ was not unusual.
Offered Originally in 13 15 and 20 degrees, in paint that matched the retail 975 Driver line, it was expected to be a release to retail market. But that never materialized.
Then, they morphed into the PT looking light silver grey finish you see here.
MacGregor had such a rich history in Golf for many decades. Between their persimmon woods and irons their ties to many legends is unparalleled. This thread could pertain to so many iron models but I will start a thread with a model I am well aware of having gamed these. The MacGregor Muirfield 20th irons have their place in history as being the "prototype" of the irons Jack Nicklaus went on to win his 6th Masters. As with modern classic MacGregor irons these were made from 1025 carbon steel, nickel plated and really solid. My handicap at its best with these was around a 4 or so. I replaced these with 1990 reissue of the MacGregor VIP irons (where I eventually became a scratch golfer).
This is my 8 iron of my set of Muirfield 20th irons. My brother currently has these but I will be getting them back before Spring. I will probably have the faces blasted (am toying with the idea of getting the chrome stripped then face blasted). I will reshaft these with Nippon Modus Tour 105 stiff shafts.
Some know and others may not know, I have been buying / selling Camerons online for 20 years now.
Much has changed in this realm of the Collector Hobby. From seeing some of his first items at the 1994 PGA show and wondering who would pay $300.00 for a putter. To the current era.
Some may notice, and some may not care. BUT, I have my rankings & terms of what is out there today. ready ? here we go.
OTR = Off The Rack - Putter anyone can buy in a pro shop
OTR Modified = An OTR Putter that was modified outside the Custom Shop
OTR Restored- PRE Custom Shop = An OTR Putter restored before the Custom Shop Existed (Mill Marks removed)
Custom Shop Restored = Self Explanatory
Pro Issued = Putter made for a Club Pro (Like one I own)
Pro Tour Issued = Putter made specifically for a player to use.
Modern Tour Use Only = Putter made with TOUR stamps and markings that will never be on tour - Collectors Piece.
